News

Ex-Kurunegala Mayor jailed for demolishing King’s Hall

Published

2 years ago

December 14, 2023

editor

Former Kurunegala Mayor Thushara Sanjeewa and four others were sentenced to three years of rigorous imprisonment after they were found guilty of demolishing the King’s Assembly Hall or the King’s Court dating back to the era of King Buwanekabahu, in Kurunegala.

The sentence was handed down by Kurunegala Provincial High Court Judge Lal Bandara, who also ordered for the accused to pay a sum of Rs. 13.7 Million as compensation for the damages caused.

The King’s Assembly Hall dating back to the era of King Buwanekabahu, in Kurunegala was demolished by the Kurunegala Municipal Council, using a back-hoe loader on the 14th of July 2020 citing the need to expand the road.

During that period, there was serious condemnation over the matter, and then-Kurunegala Mayor Thushara Sanjeewa justified his reasons for doing so.

Later on, legal action was instituted against then-Kurunegala Mayor Thushara Sanjeewa, then-Kurunegala Urban Commissioner Pradeep Nishantha Thilakaratne, Acting Superintendant Ilaldeen Zulfikar, and Back-hoe operator Lakshman Priyantha.

The accused were charged under five indictments, and Kurunegala Provincial High Court Judge Lal Bandara delivering the verdict, said that each offense carries a sentence of one year.

Thus, each suspect received a sentence of three years each, and was also fined Rs. 50,000/- each.

(newsfirst.lk)

News

Train schedules on Northern line revised

Published

2 minutes ago

July 7, 2025

editor

The Department of Railways has announced amendments to train schedules on the Northern Line in response to public requests.

Due to high demand, the Intercity Express train, which previously operated only on weekends, will now run daily between Mt. Lavinia and Kankesanthurai starting today (July 07).

In addition, the departure time of the “Yaal Devi” train plying daily from Colombo Fort to Kankesanthurai has been revised from 5.45 am to 6.40 am.

The Department has advised passengers who made advance seat reservations for the “Yaal Devi” train a month ago, to note the new departure time.

News

Rains expected in several areas today

Published

1 hour ago

July 7, 2025

editor

The Meteorology Department says that several spells of showers will occur in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and provinces and in Kandy, Nuwara-Eliya, Galle and Matara districts today (July 07).

A few showers may occur in the North-western province.

Showers or thundershowers may occur at a few places in the Uva province and in Ampara and Batticaloa districts during the afternoon or night.

Strong winds of about 40-50 kmph can be expected at times over Western slopes of the central hills and in Northern, North-central and North-western provinces and in Trincomalee and Hambantota districts.

The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.

News

Former Eastern Provincial Council member arrested

Published

12 hours ago

July 6, 2025

editor

Ampara District Organizer of the Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal party and former member of the Eastern Provincial Council K. Pushpakumar alias Iniya Bharathi has been arrested.

He was arrested over the abduction and disappearance of the former Vice Chancellor of the Eastern University Prof. Subramaniyam Ravindranath.

Sivanathurai Chandrakanthan, alias Pillayan, the leader of the Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP) and former State Minister, was arrested by the Colombo Criminal Investigation Department at his office in Batticaloa on April 8, over this incident.

He was later detained for 3 months under the Prevention of Terrorism Act.

Iniya Bharathi, also known as Kumaraswamy Pushpakumar, was arrested based on information revealed during the interrogation of Pillayan.